Relating to allowing a therapy or facility dog to accompany a child or a person with a disability during testimony in certain criminal cases.

HB 4563 allows therapy or facility dogs to accompany children or people with disabilities during testimony in specific criminal cases. The bill defines "therapy dogs" (trained for emotional support in public settings) and "facility dogs" (trained to reduce stress in high-pressure environments), requiring both dogs and their handlers to meet specific certification standards. Handlers must complete additional training on courtroom protocols before the dog can be present. The law applies to testimony in prosecutions involving offenses like drug crimes under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 481, as well as cases involving child witnesses or individuals with documented disabilities.